A search through Gizmodo today revealed that Eamex, a research start-up out of Osaka, Japan, has released what was reported as a Lithium Ion battery. A further search on the web at the Green Patent Blog showed that this really wasn’t the case. The reports are promising, but not quite complete or accurate.
A close look into Eamex reveals their charter:
“It aims at the practical use of the polymer actuator technology that begins to appear in the world. It does from the basic research to the product development and it challenges resolutely. The actuator application product will rapidly extend to the society in the future.”
Okay.
What they really mean to say here is that they have a new moving electrical technology that they mean develop into products such as electrically controlled muscle replacements, switches for batteries, and apertures for ultra-small cameras like those found on today’s cell-phones. Their polymers can be referred to as MEMS or Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems. The upside is they don’t need extensive silicon based processing. They have a material that can shrink or expand with a voltage. This is super cool. This technology is made from polymers instead of metals and can last almost 100,000 movements or actuations. That means if used in a camera it can turn the shutter on or off many times and still be useful. Ten is a good guess at a number based on years.
Their polymer materials are so useful that they can be used as the basis for ultra-improved advanced battery designs, but Eamex went one step further. They designed what they call a super-capacitor. This differs little from an ultra-capacitor in that it uses their polymer as the eltrolyte (electrical charge storing) material. What’s the advantage of these devices? Simply put, they can charge quicker, last longer, and provide quick jolts of power.
In an electric vehicle, car or bike, that quick jolt of power can in fact take the burden of acceleration off the main batteries. A hybrid power source would use Eamex’s super-capacitors combined with Lithium cells to make a two stage system. One part would supply constant power, but Lithium doesn’t react well to sudden or peak power draws. A super or ultra capacitor steps in to take the sudden jolts needed for acceleration. This reduces the burden on the Lithium cells, which makes the power last longer.
The results have already been demonstrated by AFS Trinity, an automotive design company out of Bellevue Washington, that”s promoting a plug-in hybrid SUV. Their design utilizes ultra-capacitors coupled with a Lithium Ion battery pack. The end result is a vehicle that runs up to 150mpg.
Eamex’s design solidifies the potential for super or ultra-capacitor technology. It’s a matter of time before an automobile company combines Eamex’s technology with Lithium batteries to make a unique high mileage vehicle. The only thing standing in the way? Mass production of Eamex’s polymer and mass extraction of Lithium.
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